BRIEF NEWS: IKEA Edinburgh Recycles 90 Percent Food Waste; Viridor Acquires Milton Keynes MRF; And More

30 November 2011

CORE Helps IKEA Edinburgh Recycles More Than 90 Percent Of Food Waste; Glasgow City Council Seek To Appoint Viridor As "Successful Participant"; Viridor Acquires Milton Keynes MRF

CORE Helps IKEA Edinburgh Recycles More Than 90 Percent Of Food Waste

CORE, a MITIE company, has been recognised for its highly successful approach to minimising food waste, introducing the composting of 90 percent of all food waste at IKEA Edinburgh in just two years.　

The newly acquired MITIE company won the 2011 Scottish Waste & Resources award for "Excellence in Resource Management" last month for reducing food waste at the Scandinavian retailer's Edinburgh store.

Since partnering with CORE in October 2009, IKEA has gone from recycling none of its food waste in September 2009 to diverting 90 percent of all food waste from landfill.

CORE implemented a new approach to food waste, based on the closed loop concept and is in line with Zero Waste Scotland guidelines. The food waste generated from the canteen and café areas, which previously went to landfill is now sent for composting.　

On average, 6.9 tonnes are diverted from landfill every month, equivalent to two double decker buses filled with food waste.　 This saves 16.5 tonnes of CO2 and 170 kg of methane gas in the process (estimated using DEFRA accepted values).

www.mitie.com　

Viridor commented on the notification by Glasgow City Council that its procurement project board will seek council approval to appoint Viridor as "Successful Participant" to develop and deliver a　twenty-five year solution for the treatment and disposal of residual waste.

Commenting, Colin Paterson, Viridor's Scottish regional director, said: "As Scotland's leading recycling, renewable energy and sustainable waste partner, Viridor welcomes the notification today by Glasgow City Council that it is to seek committee approval to announce the company as 'Successful Participant'.　

"Should the Executive Committee determine to proceed, Viridor stands ready to work towards a financial close on the project and to further drive sustainability and zero waste objectives for the council and its communities."

www.viridor.co.uk　

Viridor has acquired Milton Keynes-based Community Waste Recycling Limited, a specialist materials recycling and paper trading company for a total consideration of £15.75m.

The acquired company operates an advanced automated Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, processing commingled dry recyclables predominantly from long and medium-term contracts with local councils, as well as a smaller MRF in Enstone (North West of Oxford) processing waste from municipal, commercial and industrial customers.

Current annual processing of materials equates to 90,000 tonnes per annum, and the company employs 69 people, plus 80 agency staff.　 　

This acquisition fits with Viridor's strategy of expanding its materials recycling capacity, particularly where there are synergies with existing assets, such as our recycling services across the south east. It will further strengthen Viridor Resource Management's position as a leading supplier of quality recyclate volumes for UK and international markets.

www.viridor.co.ukDarrel Moore